Carlsberg warns of tough 2026

Denmark | Danish brewer Carlsberg reported a 5 percent rise in full-year operating profit, beating analyst expectations. This was helped by cost-cutting and stronger-than-anticipated benefits from its acquisition of soft drinks maker Britvic last year, which also doubled the share of soft drinks in its portfolio to 30 percent of volumes. Yet, Carlsberg warned on 4 February it did not expect any improvements in a stubbornly difficult consumer environment.

Czech beer market declines by more than 5 percent in 2025

Czech Republic | The beer market dropped during 2025 by over 5 percent according to early figures, undermining the country’s image as a stable island of beer culture while all around it beer consumption declines.

Budějovický Budvar increases beer output in 2025

Czech Republic | For the third year in a row the state-owned brewery Budweiser Budvar reports record sales. In 2025, it sold 1.95 million hl beer – one percent more than in the previous year, defying the overall market, which shrunk in excess of 5 percent.

United Kingdom | Scottish brewer and bar operator BrewDog will close down its distilling arm after ten years in operation, and stop the production of its spirits brands, including Lonewolf Gin, Abstrakt Vodka, Duo Rum, Casa Rayos Tequila and Ron Bodega rum, over the coming months, media reported on 27 January. The canned cocktail brand Wonderland, however, will continue to be produced by a third party. BrewDog did not confirm how many jobs will be impacted.

Dramatic fall in number of UK breweries

United Kingdom | It is not just pubs disappearing at an alarming rate. According to new figures released on 27 January, brewery closure rates increased dramatically during 2025 compared to previous years. The UK now has just 1578 individual breweries as of 1st January, says the Society of Independent Brewers and Associates (SIBA), compared to 1715 at the start of 2025, 1815 in 2024, and 1828 in 2023 when SIBA’s brewery tracker started.

Keystone Brewing acquired in GBP 4.5 million deal

United Kingdom | The struggling roll-up, Keystone Brewing Group, has been acquired by the newly-formed Great British Drinks Company for just GBP 4.5 million (USD 6.2 million), it was reported on 22 January.

United Kingdom | Diageo is reportedly considering the sale of its controlling stake in Chinese baijiu producer Sichuan Swellfun as part of a wider programme of disposals. The move would allow Diageo’s new leadership to cut debt. The new CEO, Sir Dave Lewis, started his role on 1 January.

UK’s Keystone Group files fourth administration intent notice

United Kingdom | Black Sheep Brewery is still “trading as normal” despite it and the Yorkshire firm’s parent company, Keystone Brewing Group, submitting repeated notices of intention to appoint administrators in the past eight weeks.

Schneider brewery buys beer brands Weltenburger and Bischofshof

Germany | Call it a Bavarian rescue mission. The family-owned brewery G. Schneider & Sohn (“Schneider Weisse”) from Kelheim, Bavaria, will acquire the trademark rights to “Bischofshof” and “Weltenburger” from the struggling Bischofshof brewery in Regensburg, Bavaria, on 1 January, 2027. Schneider has been contract brewing for Bischofshof before becoming its rescuer.

Castel Group: CEO accused of power grab

France | You can tell something is seriously wrong if family members of the notoriously secretive French Castel Group start talking to the media. Reports say that two Castel family members want to oust the former Swiss tax lawyer-turned-Castel CEO, Gregory Clerc, 39. They accuse him of a power grab and pursuing a vision for the group which is not in accordance with the family’s values. But the latest attempt (8 January) to sack him failed.